I figured it was time for another Tigers update. I realized that analyzing every game or even every series gets really frustrating with this team, so giving an update every few weeks is better for my fandom.
When I left you last time the Motown Mashers were 2.5 games behind the Dirty Sox. They have improved upon that over the last 3 weeks, and now are sitting just 1 game back. When you think about that it is encouraging, but when you dive into the last 9 games it quickly becomes confusing and frustrating.
I have come to realize that last year’s team was just really fun to root for. So many players were having incredible years, the bullpen was not blowing leads every other night, and the Tigers ran away with the AL Central Division crown. This year is not last. There are just some of the players that are hard to root for, the bullpen enjoys giving up that extra run, and the Dirty Sox keep winning.
The Tigers managed to piss off the fan base, win them back over, and abruptly push them all away again in just 9 games. It was an amazing feat, but the good thing is we are still in striking distance of Chicago. Detroit traveled to Kansas City and left their bats at home. They were swept by the horrid Royals, and managed to score just 1 run in the last 18 innings of the series. Then they came home to face the White Sox and put together 3 great pitching performances and scored just enough to win all 3 games. Just so us Michiganders weren’t too excited, the team turned around and lost 2 of 3 against a Cleveland team that came into Detroit 6-29 in their last 35 games. What just happened?
I don’t want to break down each game because they are in the past, and I don’t feel like getting angry this early in the morning. The starting pitching has been incredible for really the second half of the season. Max Scherzer has won his last 5 starts with close to a 1.00 era and has lowered his overall era to just under 4.00. People, if he closes the season with 5 or 6 more good starts, he could be in the Cy Young discussion. Sanchez has turned things around and has 3 straight quality starts with the team, unfortunately he only has one win in those starts. He is throwing a ton of strikes and working in all of his pitches. Porcello might be having his best stretch of his career right now, but he keeps getting left with the loss. In Rick’s last 3 starts he has only gotten 5 runs of support from the team. Doug Fister is starting to get healthy again from a sore groin to look like 2011 Doug Fister. Even though his velocity is down 3-4 mph, he is still getting the ball down and getting a lot of easy ground balls. Then there is Verlander. He definitely has had more poor starts this season than last, but that was to be expected. His last start was a completely dominating effort against Chicago on Sunday night baseball. If the starters can keep this going for the remaining 26 games I would be very surprised if the Tigers don’t win the division.
The offense has been a little shaky for most of the season, and it has continued in the last 3 weeks. The bottom 5 hitters continue to be on a season long roller coaster from good to bad. There is only so much that the top of the lineup can do to carry a team. Austin Jackson is having a career year at the plate. Andy Dirks is looking like the perfect 2 hitter in this offense. Miguel is having another incredible MVP type year, and Prince Fielder is doing his thing. Currently Delmon Young might be the hottest hitter in the entire AL. The rest of the lineup has been struggling with any sort of consistency. This team is built to score runs, but I have been really disappointed with their strategy at the plate in a lot of games this season. It seems like the most average opposing pitchers shut down this offense too much. If they can find a way to focus and score 5.5 runs a game for the rest of the season, we should see the Tigers in the playoffs for a 2nd straight year.
Detroit now goes on a 10 game road trip where they will face the Angels, White Sox (for the last time), and the Indians. A winning record over this trip will be very important.
On a side note, keep cheering for Miguel to launch some home runs. He is currently 3 behind the AL leaders with 35 bleacher bombs. He is leading the AL in RBI and average right now and could be the first triple crown winner since 1967. He would have to win the MVP if he did this… right?
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